All-Star Weekend lessons with Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh

The thing you notice most at All-Star Weekend is how much everyone needs to charge their phone. It’s like the Hunger Games for charging your phone.

But this year it’s All-Star x Black Panther Weekend and you’re most likely on the move trying to find your way to Jimmy Goldstein’s or Drake’s party, or getting into one of the many corporate events in the area. You absolutely need the juice. It’s about what’s next, but it also celebrates that which never changes.

LeBron James called out the president and called for gun control (then won his third All-Star MVP), Adam Silver talked about changes to the playoff seeding and Charles Barkley lost his voice. Kanye and Cudi embraced on stage. God’s Plan was playing everywhere. And much more than last year, people are excited about the basketball on the court as much as the culture. The Warriors did not kill the NBA, they re-energized it like Koby Altman changed the Cavs on deadline day.

Teams were scrapping it out almost every night since MLK Day because they were so sick of each other. Finally, they made it to vacation, even if it was a working one. To look back and to look forward without sacrificing the moment. And with LeBron and the Cavs looking like a different team, it was also a good time to reassess.

(Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

The trade deadline is gone. For the first time in the recent history of the All-Star weekend, there is little left to figure out with regards to rosters. Last year, All-Star DeMarcus Cousins got traded to the host city. There is the buyout market which has to materialize before March 1 for playoff teams, which has already made us seriously talk about Marco Bellineli for a week.

So when I caught up with a couple of NBA legends, one retired and another definitively not retired, I wanted to touch base with them about the season. Just before the All-Star Saturday night festivities, Paul Pierce and Chris Bosh are at Katsuya in L.A. Live, surrounded by different types of PB&J, highlighting the NBA’s pre-game snack of choice. There was no LeBron and Wade themed one, though.

Pierce, of course, loves that things have gotten chippy lately.

“You’ve got to love the competitive spirit of the NBA. I mean people love to see people compete,” Pierce said. “People didn’t like the All-Star game because people didn’t feel like they really competed. It’s great when people care and when they compete and it’s not just about a business. It’s not just the way you look out there and the way you are branded. At the end of the day, when you care a lot it shows on the court and produces the best product.”

Both Pierce and Bosh have had a close up on LeBron’s teams. Both live in L.A. so they didn’t have to travel from far away. Pierce thinks All-Star weekend should always be here. But they’ll have to just take the W for now.

The NBA’s biggest stories are still surrounding the whole event. There hasn’t been one person that I’ve spoken to in five days that hasn’t loved this season. People were checked out last year. Basketball fans I’ve talked to in L.A. believed in this season. A perfect time for a temperature check with two future Hall of Famers.

“Houston can legitimately give Golden State a run but also OKC. If you see the two games OKC really took it out them. This year in the Western Conference I think it’s going to be about the matchup,” said Pierce, who is an ESPN analyst. “OKC is a bad matchup for Golden State. If they see each other in the second round, I’m not so sure they get by them. So they could avoid OKC in later rounds but Houston could knock off OKC. It’s only going to be about matchups. You see, Houston I don’t know if they can beat Golden State but I think OKC can. I think it’s going to be all about the matchups.”

According to Cleaning The Glass, the Warriors, Rockets and Raptors look projected to win over 60 games. The Cavs, meanwhile, are projected to win one fewer game than the Portland Trail Blazers. The Cavs are also 6 ½ games behind the Raptors for the first seed and 4 ½ games behind Boston for second.

Statistics aside, most everyone agrees things are different now.

“Based on the last couple of games, LeBron looked re-energized. A younger supporting cast, it looks like they’re faster, more athletic. LeBron looks a little more motivated this week than he has in the previous month or so,” Pierce said. “Whenever he’s playing like that you have to give him the edge because he is LeBron James and he’s been to seven straight Finals. So they definitely are the frontrunner based on what we’ve seen. Even though it’s a small sample size, they look totally different. Just like they took a poop and sprayed some Febreze and then everything is good.”

Bosh knows the struggle of going to the Finals four seasons in a row with the pressure of being on LeBron’s Heat teams in the earlier part of the decade. Almost everyone they’ve added knows nothing like that struggle. But could it be helpful that their new talent aren’t used to the LeBron cycle of things and the pressure of his greatness?

“They’re ready, they’re eager. They’ve got that youthful glow,” Bosh said. “They can go out there and run a 100 miles an hour and do it just cause you can. And that’s wonderful. They have that a little more now with Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance. They’re more of the guys that fly around. The Lakers play fast. The guys that were traded they were more veteran savvy, more of a half court kind of team. Today’s league right now you ‘ve got to have a transition game. It’s necessary. I think the trade worked out. If they can get in that transition game, get out, fly around. Be aggressive on defense, the team before was more zoning, more half court, more methodical. This one, sometimes that inexperience helps.”

“IT came back (to the Lakers) and played well in his first game, Jae Crowder played well in his first game and it’s like maybe it was one of those things that it just didn’t match. And it happens sometimes.”

The Heat with LeBron and Bosh played at their best when they played with pace. Bosh sees the speed on display for Cleveland and sees that it really gives them a different dimension. The player he’s most excited for is playing in a spot that he knows well.

“They’re fast, they’re faster,” Bosh said. “I mean Larry Nance. When I saw the trade with Larry Nance, I said man, he’s going to be great for them. An Athletic big, you’re going to play well with LeBron. I’m telling you his dreams will come true by rolling to the basket. That’s all he has to do and be himself to get up and guard those screen and rolls. It gives them a little more versatility.”

It’s in the mid 70’s in L.A. and it’s pretty hot for February. It feels like a good day for a beer. The NBA is a wine league now though. Bosh is keeping the torch alive for those who enjoy a good brew. And yes, he says he hasn’t yet retired and would let us all know if that’s what he decides.

Bosh has long been a fan of microbrews and has transitioned from rich stouts and porters to lighter, more drinkable beers such as lagers and pilsners. He was very involved in the Miami beer scene and has now transitioned to exploring older beers that have been around for a while. He gets the wine obsession, but it just doesn’t scratch the same itch.

“That’s cool, but a brew? It’s a thing man,” Bosh said. “I’m a Dad, I can relate to that. I’m at the pool, I can get a brew. I want it nice and crispy. Wine it’s dinner.”

There will be some more infinity pools ahead for the NBA crowd at All-Star weekend. LeBron took a few days in Cabo, because if we could, we would too.

But basketball has always been about more than just the games. It’s been more than the result of who will win it all. But there’s certainly more energy this season around the games. All-Star Weekend is a cultural touchstone, with every brand in sight working to get their piece of the pie. But no matter the accoutrement or the new technology, it’s the basketball that always takes it to the next level.

We know less right now than we knew at the start of the season. The season is filled with possibilities. The best part is we don’t even know how many there are.

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